The Network: The Plastic is Fantastic Association (PiFA)

Why did Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen (NGR) decide to join PiFA?

Whenever I hear about an initiative that makes so much sense, I simply want to be part of it. I’m pleased to see such major industry players coming together to promote issues surrounding plastics. Providing well-founded information and replacing myths with facts. That has my full support.

What future for plastics do you personally associate with PiFA?

Thanks to the commitment of its initiators and global market leaders such as Alpla and Husky, the initiative has a genuine opportunity to change the way people think about plastics. By participating, we also want to advocate for fair and transparent rules. PiFA should support the transformation toward fair competition so that abuses of the system, such as falsely declared imports, are prevented.

What would PiFA need to achieve to truly change the debate on plastics?

I wrote down just one word: “move”. PiFA would have to move people – to think and to want to understand. People need to realize that economic viability, the responsible use of resources, and the common good are not mutually exclusive.

What can a platform like PiFA achieve that individual companies cannot?

Two words: move more.

The Purpose: What Drives NGR

In your view, what is the most important reason why NGR exists?

Thirty years ago, the company was founded to provide a solution to the growing amount of post-industrial waste. Today, we are firmly established in post-consumer and PET recycling. We contribute to the circular economy, help protect the environment, and always keep the common good in mind. That perfectly reflects our purpose: “Working for a better future.”

What does NGR make possible in plastic recycling?

Our USP originates from fiber production: Liquid State Polycondensation (LSP) for polyester. Under controlled vacuum and temperature conditions, the molecules reconnect and regain the quality of the original material. This technology evolved into a food-grade recycling process that delivers the highest level of purity. It is fascinating: a technology that reunites polymer chains while actively removing contaminants from the material.

If your machines could make a promise to the environment, what would it be?

That we will continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible to achieve even higher recycling quality. We want to make a meaningful contribution so that our grandchildren can also grow up in an environment worth living in.

What is the greatest benefit your customers gain from your work?

For our customers, economic efficiency is key: productivity, reliability, and above all, product safety. Anyone using recycled material in a new product must guarantee its performance when placing it on the market. That makes product safety the highest priority.

What would the recycling industry be missing if NGR did not exist?

An innovative driving force.

What should people remember after this conversation?

Plastic is Fantastic is not about lobbying but about promoting sustainability and a sensible, future-oriented economy. If people recognize that added value, we have already achieved a great deal.

The interview was conducted by Claudia Wörner, Managing Director of yes or no Media GmbH.